This blog post is about how to make Instant Pot Mac n Cheese.

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
There is something very comforting about mac and cheese. Growing up I remember watching my mom make me macaroni and cheese from the Kraft blue box. Later on in college I’d buy single serving easy mac to make in my dorm room, but add a layer of shredded cheese and bake to make it fancy.
Now that my toddler is almost two, we enjoy mac and cheese a few times a week. However with her eczema, we noticed avoiding and minimizing gluten in her diet is crucial to avoiding flare ups. While there are lots of gluten free options on the market, we haven’t found one we love when it comes to taste. My other concern is the quality of ingredients in boxed mac and cheeses when eating it so often, so I started experimenting with Instant Pot Mac and Cheese.

Hail to The Instant Pot
Is there anything this little contraption can’t do? Once I realized I could make pasta in 4 minutes in the Instant Pot, it was like a whole new world opened up to me. Recently I also learned I can make rice mixed with things in this magical pressure cooker/ slow cooker/ pan, so stay tuned for tons of one pot meals coming this fall and winter.
Why Make Your Own Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
With so many box and frozen options out there, why bother making it yourself? First off, this method and recipe takes 10 minutes and barely requires any attention for most of it! Can you boil water, cook pasta, measure milk and butter in that time frame?
Next is the ingredients. If you have dietary restrictions or concerns, this is the best way to get the macaroni and cheese you desire with the ingredients you want.
Cost breakdown is much more affordable than the boxed and frozen stuff.




Quick & Easy Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
Equipment
- 1 Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 8 oz dry pasta of choice works best with spiral or elbow macaroni
- 4 cups water
- ½ cup heavy cream or milk of choice
- 4 tbsp full fat butter
- 16 oz shredded cheddar cheese of choice I mix sharp cheddar and Mexican blend cheese
- ½ tbsp garlic powder
- ½ tbsp sea salt
- 1 tsp mustard seed poweder
Instructions
- place pasta in Instant Pot and add water (make sure the water cover's the pasta, but just barely)
- place the lid on the Instant Pot set to sealing, set manual - high - 4 minutes
- when Instant Pot is done cooking, de-pressurize by releasing steam
- once de-pressurized, open the lid and drain any excess water making sure to leave at least ½ cup of pasta water with the pasta.
- leave the pot on, throw in butter, heavy cream (milk of choice), cheese, and seasonings, stir till mixed and melted
- add additional seasoning to taste
- optional: add a few spoonfuls of cream cheese for extra creaminess
Notes
Get Crazy with Your Mac and Cheese
The above recipe is the bare bones of mac and cheese. Get creative. Use your favorite pastas. I like Jovial Gluten Free Macaroni and Bonanza Rotini Chickpea Pasta for a little more protein. Like a little spice? Throw in some cayenne pepper or chopped green chilies.
I typically make two boxes worth of pasta and freeze a good portion of it to heat up later.